New Qatar Airways CEO Shares Surprising Priorities For Airline

Sometimes in complex businesses you need a real detail oriented, fist pounding, single minded leader to set the tone.

Otherwise you become just another competitor that looks like everyone else.

I would consider Michael O Leary to be the most outspoken CEO…but okay…it’s a different category

Be nice if he did an about face on the airline's first class retirement. Doubtful however

When an OPEC member says their priority is "implementing sustainable aviation solutions", then you know everything they say is lip service.

We will see, but Qatar has really bad ground service almost to a point that they hate there passengers. None of the frontline employees are empowered to make decisions and occasionally show compassion.

That statement was absolutely written by a PR person and likely got little direct feedback from the principal. I wouldn't read to much into the statement.

Sounds like the typical new era CEO blather when they can't or don't want to speak specifics.

Typical CEO and corporate blather meant to sound impressive but is actually meaningless. You would do just just as well in trying to figure out their future actions by saving some chicken bones, dumping them on the ground, and trying to decipher what they are trying to tell you.

I am sorry but I feel you are reading too much into it. It is a typical word salad with all typical corporate buzzwords in it

Gotta laugh at your math...2 decades plus a decade at the construction company plus multiple degrees would put him in his mid 50s at the youngest

@ Matt -- Where are you getting the two decades plus one decade from? I wrote that he has spent two decades working in aviation, construction, and real estate development projects. That includes the previous project, and it sounds like that's the entirety of his work experience. Unless you read something that I didn't...?

Usually, the way it works in the most parts of the middle east is that the leader makes sure that nobody dares saying or doing anything except indicating how much trust and empowerment they have and that they are not afraid of anything. And that's how a culture of trust and empowerment is made.

@ Ole -- Maybe I am. Qatar Airways has long used a lot of buzzwords (mostly about how the airline is best at everything), but the terms "trust" and "empowerment" aren't ones I've seen, even in corporate speak. So...

Fully agree. Qatar is poor on the ground. And for the record I don't like their cramped q suites.

Fair point!

Is this going to change Qatar Airways current policy for 1 cabin bag ONLY with 7kgs/15lbs?

They certainly need to empower their ground staff. In my experience, when things go wrong most of them are clueless and useless.

Qsuites aint cramped my boy.. time to stop them Mcdonalds..

Interesting that no one seems to explain what’s happened to Al Baker - I guess in the greater scheme of things it doesn’t matter - what I do know is that staff are now hoping that this might change the regime of fear and intimidation into a more open and sustainable relationship going forward - only time will tell

It was time for a change. I put Qatar on hold as my flights in 2022/23 for me and colleagues had been slipping. Shifted to Emirates biz and even EVA and all fine with that. Let see what really changes at Qatar.

Of course, it’s the new CEO first priority

is this the guy who was in charge when the airport officials examined females in transit without their consent? And he is talking about trust and respect?

The problem this airline has is customer service! I have never had such bad post customer service in my life! Its an area this airline chooses to ignore, and if you check their social media, the posts are awash with unhappy customers, all who are complaining about the customer service being non existent!

Congratulations him in near future , And do is best Inshallah.

Qatar is not a OPEC member. They moved out of it a couple years ago.

I have been flying since 2016 and still flying Qatar Airways. Its a better airline than most on the American and Europe sector. Flew on Covid days when Qatar Airways took many precautions. Yes, I am a member of Privilege Club which I enjoy very much at stop overs Hammad International Airport. Yusuf

Absolutely right....

Nothing will change at this airline. Al Bakar's achievements are overrated. Who can't run an airline with an unlimited budget? I have worked for this airline for 10 years and I have to say that it's a shit environment. Employees are overworked and pilots are flying over the legal limit of 100 hours per month as the airline uses factored hours (seat time). I also don't understand how Hamad airport wins any awards (payments to skytrax?) as many flights end up parked at a remote bay and passengers are taken to the terminal by bus. Reason being, he airport is already too small for its capacity.
The latest tropical garden is also a copy of the award winning singapore airport (and they had the nerve to accuse Singapore of copying their idea), so tell me if a tropical concept is relevant to a desert country? Oh, by the way watch this airport when it rains as there are numerous leaks in the roof and water gushes in, creating the world's best indoor waterfall. But alas, employees are refrained from taking videos or pictures of this indoor waterfall as it is a national embarrassment.

I believe that was my First trip by Qatar air. I really feel comfortable trip.....l wish if they start direct flight from toronto to pakistan . Over all qatar air is good airline.

Qatar Airways,my experience as a passenger, is really a world class airlines having a disciplined crew and strict time schedule. Qatar has emerged as a trustworthy nation amongst the world nations situated in the rich middle east region and has many but two most popular and trustworthy world class services Qatar Air lines and Aljezera.But the most trust worthy is the law & order and justice system prevailing there. May Qatar shine like sun.

Qatar has gained the trust of most nations of the world. May be its Air Lines,Qatar Airways, its Broadcasting giant Aljezera or above all its disciplined internal law and order and justice system. Long live Qatar.

My son is travelling in IAH-BOM-IAH sector on 28.11.2023-28.12.2023. He wants to extend his return journey on 02.01.2024 instead of 28.12.2023. The difference in fare is coming of the order of 1500 USD-1800 USD, which is exhorbitantly high. Need help if that difference is made affordable

Very interesting articles.

Sadly, you have not done your homework before publishing this article.

Badr Mohammed Al Meer was my colleague when I joined United Development Company (UDC) in February 2009. Badr had joined hardly a year before me as an Electrical Engineer as a fresh graduate. Considering he started his career in 2008, he has completed only 15 years of his career, not two decades.

Moreover, he had shuffled between UDC and Qatar Airways before finally settling as COO of Hamad International Airport. There has been political influence in his rise to this position.

I can write his complete biography here, but I believe the above will give you a glimpse of how what you have written is completely different from the facts. You will never get inside stories just from the media or by searching the internet.

So far the only things which are changing are for cabin crew. Like his predecessor pilots are being neglected. Baker hated his pilots, called us overpaid bus drivers. With a new CEO at the helm, doesn’t look like it’s changed. Nothing is being done to retain us, so we abide our time, get the hours until something better comes along. We are all looking forward to RIA to shake things up in the ME. The time has come for gaining an inch of respect.

Engineer Badr Al-Meer, the new CEO, lived through Qatar Airways during its period of brilliance and expansion, and he also worked very closely with His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al-Baker. He was certainly one of the knights of Qatar Airways and won international awards and represented it on a regular basis. I am completely certain that he will make it shine even more in the quality of service. Congratulations to Qatar Airways for such young people

There are plenty of "Direct" Flights from Toronto to Pakistan, but surely not one Non-Stop which is normal, Qatar is an Airline from Qatar so you will always have a stop at Qatar.